This 50-Year-Old Homemaker with a Passion for Bikes Is Going to Inspire You Like No One Else Today

Women who are homemakers are severely undervalued in some Indian households. And this is a disappointing trend because we know that there are so many valuable life lessons to learn from a stay-at-home mother — from sacrifice to multi-tasking.

Mothers who manage to run households efficiently always seem to be on top of their game. During their rigorous daily routine of trying to make family life more comfortable, stay-at-home mothers often forget their own adventurous spirit and ambitious zeal.

In a post shared by Humans of Bombay that has subsequently gone viral, a 50-year-old mom talks about overcoming massive hurdles, like a life threatening disease and crippling self-doubt, to follow her passion of riding bikes.

Trupti Sarmalkar goes on to explain how she joined an all-female motorcycle group with her family’s support, just for the love of biking. Never did she imagine that it would make her feel so independent and liberated. Soon enough she was selected to drive to Khardung La in Ladakh,  as a participant in a TV show, where she met other like-minded women.

She says, “The journey was a beautiful one — of course there was a lot of difficult terrain but it was all worth it when we got to the top on August 21st. In fact, I turned 50 on that very day and the rest of my group organised a cake and sang for me on top of the peak. I remember the moment I reached the top— I started screaming! Never before had I felt so free, powerful and complete.”

Read the full text here:

“When I was 6 years old, I got breathless and was admitted to the hospital. I had a growth in my windpipe called Papillomas and as a result I had to depend on an oxygen tank until I was 18. After multiple surgeries I was able to breathe normally, but my voice was barely audible — until today I have to get a laser surgery every year, or else I lose my voice.

I am a homemaker. I have two sons and a loving husband, but I’ve always felt like I need to do more and be more. Many years ago we had only one car and my husband would take that car to work. Whether it was dropping my children for school or tuitions or running my errands, I would always have to go in an auto…so I decided to start saving money for a bike. Every month I would save a little, and after a year and a half I was able to purchase my own bike— and the second I drove it, I fell in love. More than anything it gave me the independence to move around freely — it may not sound like a lot to you but it was everything to me.

I joined a female motorcycle group, and saw that there was a group of women going to Goa on their bikes…I wondered if it would be appropriate for a homemaker to leave her kids and family and go out on a bike journey. When I told my family about this opportunity they were so supportive — intact they pushed me to go for it! My husband said he will make sure he’s at home more and my older son said that he would take care of his younger brother. I made their study time tables for them, organised their drops to school and tuition and took it — I went to Goa and back by bike with a group of women and it was the most liberating feeling of my life…and it had only just begun.

Last year, I even completed a ride to Himachal and Uttarakhand but the highlight of my life has been when I got chosen to go to Khardung La by TVS Scooty Zest. At first when I applied, I thought that from 50,000 applicants there was a slim chance, but I almost immediately got a call saying I was on board!

The journey was a beautiful one — of course there was a lot of difficult terrain but it was all worth it when we got to the top on August 21st. Infact, I turned 50 on that very day and the rest of my group organised a cake and sang for me on top of the peak. I remember the moment I reached the top— I started screaming! Never before had I felt so free, powerful and complete. When I got to the top, I felt that I had my own identity… that I wasn’t just someone’s mother, or wife— I was ME. I am a 50 year old homemaker who has a passion for bikes… and I just got to the top of one of the highest peaks in the country. Age? No barrier. Profession? No Barrier? Disability? No Barrier. Truth is, the only barrier is you and if you really want something, no power in this world can stop you from getting it.”

To read more stories from Humans of Bombay, click here.

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